Work surface clamping means for drop-in cooking equipment

ABSTRACT

A clamping arrangement for fastening a drop-in device in an opening in a work surface. A trim, formed integrally with the drop-in device, overlies and extends generally parallel to the work surface. A threaded stud is permanently attached to and extends downwardly from the trim. A clamp member has first and second right angularly disposed legs with a hole in the second leg. The threaded stud extends through the hole and a nut is threaded on the stud, the nut being movable between clamping and unclamping positions. In moving to its clamping position, the nut causes the upwardly extending first leg to engage the trim and the second leg to engage the work surface.

United States Patent Fritzsche [541 wonx SURFACE CLAMPING MEANS FORDROP-1N COOKING EQUIPMENT [72] Inventor: Donald E. Fritzsclie, ChicagoHeights, 111.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1970 [21]Appl. No.: 74,888

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 836,036, June 24,1969,

Pat. No. 3,561,020.

[52] US. Cl. ..4/l87 A [51] Int. Cl ..F03c 1/18, F240 15/10 [58] Fieldof Search..4/l87 A; 126/37 R, 39 R, 39 H,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,040,338 6/1962 Zeleny eta1. ..4/1 87 A 2,582,463 1/1952 Skinner. ..4/ 187 A 2,932,036 4/1960Harris ...4/187A 1 Oct. 31, 1972 3,029,445 4/19621 .lust ..4/ 187 A3,029,446 4/ 1962 Just ..4/ 187 A 3,060,454 10/1962 Ament ..4/ 187 A XPrimary Examiner-Charles .1. Myhre Attorney-Ralph E. Kieshner, Jr.,Robert B. Kennedy, Radford M. Reams, John M. Stoudt, Frank L. Neuhauser,Oscar B. Waddell and Joseph B. Forman [57] ABSTRACT A clampingarrangement for fastening a drop-in device in 'an opening in a work.surface. A trim, formed integrally with the drop-in device, overlies andextends generally parallel to the work surface. A

' threaded stud is permanently attached to and extends downwardly fromthe trim. A clamp member has first and second right angularly disposedlegs with a hole in the second leg. The threaded stud extends throughthe hole and a nut is-threaded on the stud, the nut being movablebetween clamping and unclamping positions. In moving to its clampingposition, the nut causes the upwardly extending first leg to engage thetrim and the second leg to engage the work surface.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures WORK SURFACE CLAMPING MEANS FOR DROP- INCOOKING EQUIPMENT This is a division of application Ser. No. 836,038,filed June 24, 1969 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,020.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION utilized for purposes of fastening a drop-incooking equipment device to the work surface upon which the drop-indevice is to be supported.

2. Description of the Prior Art Although a numberof different types ofclamping means have been known for use in fastening a so-called drop-incooking equipment device such as a griddle, hotplate, etc. to the worksurface upon which the dropin device is intended to be supported, noneof these prior art clamping means has proven entirely satisfactory touse. 1 r

For example, one of the more common methods of fastening drop-in devicesto a work surface is by spot welding an angle along the periphery of theopening in the work surface suitably provided therein for the dropindevice and then drilling holes through the work surface and the angle toaccept studs that are welded to the top trim of the drop-in device.Conventional securing means may then be utilized in conjunction with thestuds for purposes of retaining the drop-in'device in place. One obviousdisadvantage of this particular method stems from the need to drill suchholes in a prescribed pattern so that they will be properly located forpurposes of receiving the studs carried by the aforementioned trim ofthe drop-in device. This makes the task of the installer considerablymore difficult particularly if such holes and the studs are found to beslightly out of alignment. Further, it may unnecessarily restrict theusers flexibility with regard to meeting future equipment needs throughthe interchang'e'of one particular type and/or size of drop-in cookingequipment device for another inasmuch as the relationship between. thepreviously drilled holes in the work surface may not exactly match thatof the studs carried by the new piece of equipment.

Another method which has been employed by the prior art primarily in anattempt to avoid the use of studs and the customary accompanying need todrill holes in the work surface has involved the use of a hinged clipthat is drawn into place by a screw. in practice, one leg of theaforesaid clip is supported in juxtaposed relation to the inside surfaceof the side wall of the drop-in device while the hinged leg, i.e., theother leg of the clip, is intended to engage the underside of the worksurface. By rotating the aforementioned screw which passes through theside wall of the drop-in device as well as through at least the hingedleg of the clip, the hinged leg is made to pivot against the undersideof the work surface with the result that the work surface is capturedbetween the trim of the drop-in device which engages the upper side ofthe work surface and the hinged leg of the clip which engages the underside of the work surface. Although this latter method of fastening adrop-in device to a work surface utilizes a clamping means whichovercomes the disadvantages relating to the use of studs and the needfor drilling holes in the work surface, the hinged clip and itsaccompanying manner of employment is not generally speaking aseconomically feasible as the former method. That is, the hinged clipconstitutes a more complex clamping member as viewed both from thestandpoint of its actual manufacture as well as from the standpoint ofdetermining what design characteristics should have with regard to theresiliency of the hinged leg, etc. Further, there exists the,possibility that the hinged leg of the clip may engage the edge of thework surface as the drop-in device is being lowered into the openingprovided therefor in the work surface such that the clip becomesunusable by virtue of the hinged leg thereof having been deformed and/orbroken.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a novel and improved clamping means for fastening adrop-in device to a work surface which will obviate the installationproblems associated with prior art clamping means used by industrytoday.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a clampingmeans which will eliminate the requirement to drill holes in the worksurface for purposes of fastening the drop-in device in the openingprovided therefore in the work surface while yet retaining thecapability of ensuring that the drop-in device is properly aligned withrespect to the edge portions of the aforesaid work surface opening.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such aclamping means which simplifies the task of fastening the drop-in deviceto the work surface, requires minimum manual effort, and yet enables asecure connection to be made therebetween.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such aclamping means which includes a minimum number of component parts, allof which are relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a preferred form of thepresent invention there is provided a pull down clamping arrangement forfastening a drop-in device in an opening in a work surface. A trim isformed integrally with the drop-in device and designed to overlie thework surface adjacent the opening therein. The trim extends generallyparallel to the work surface. A plurality of threaded studs arepermanently attached to and extend downwardly from the trim. There is atleast one clamp member having at least an upwardly extending first legand a longitudinally extending second leg which extend at right anglesto each other. The longitudinally extending second leg has at least onehole located intermediate the two ends thereof. At least one of thethreaded studs extends through the at least one hole and at least onenut is threaded on the at least one of the studs and is movable betweena clamping position and an unclamping position. In moving to itsclamping position, the at least one nut causes the upwardly extendingfirst leg of the at least one clamp member to bear against the trim andthe longitudinally extending second leg of the at least one clamp memberto bear against the work surface. This draws the trim of the drop-indevice down tightly against the work surface adjacent the openingtosecurely fasten the drop-in device to the work surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a drop-incooking equipment device positioned in an opening provided therefor in asuitable work surface and fastened in place by means of clamping meansin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the drop-in device andwork surface of FIG. 1 taken sub stantially on the line of section 2-2of FIG. 1 and illustrating a clamping means in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a clamping meansin accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of clampingmeans in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 of thedrawing, the invention is shown as incorporated in a drop-in cookingequipment device such as a griddle, generally designated by referencenumeral 10, which is illustrated as being supported in an openingprovided therefor in a work surface 11. The griddle is provided with asuitable cooking surface 12 heated by conventional means (not shown) inthe manner well-known to those skilled in the art. In addition, thegriddle 10 includes a bottom wall 13, and a plurality of verticallyextending side walls 14 which surround the periphery of the cookingsurface 12 in conventional fashion. The horizontal flange 15a of thetrim 15 which projects outwardly from the uppermost edges of thevertically extending side walls 14 surrounds and is integral with theperimeter of the drop-in device, i.e., griddle 10. The other structuraldetails of the griddle 10 have not be specifically illustrated in thedrawing inasmuch as the general construction and manner of operation ofdrop-in devices such as the griddle 10 are well-known to those skilledin the art and inasmuch as these other structural details of the griddle10 form no part of the present invention.

With reference now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing,the pull-down clamping means 16 illustrated therein includes aright-angle stiffening angle 17 having one leg 17:; thereof spot-weldedto the under side of member 18, and having the other leg 17b thereofextending downwardly at right angles to the aforementioned under side ofmember 18. In accordance with the preferred practice, member 18 isaffixed in any suitable manner such as by spot welding to the upper sideof leg 17a of right-angle stiffening angle 17. This is customarilyaccomplished at the time of manufacture such that the assemblycomprising stiffening angle 17 and member 18 is therefore in conditionfor installment at the place of employment without requiring any furtherattachment to be made therebetween. One function of member 18 is to actas a form of dam to ensure that grease, etc. is prevented from runninginto the work surface opening should such material in some manner flowpass gasket 25. It is of course to be understood that leg 17a ofstiffening angle 17 could be spot welded directly to the under side ofwork surface 11 rather than to member 18 without departing from theessence of the present invention if one desired to eliminate the use ofmember 18. Leg 17b of stiffening angle 17 is provided with a pluralityof openings 19 suitably located at spaced intervals, only one suchopening 19 having been illustrated in the drawing in the interest ofsimplicity of illustration and description. Each of the openings 19 issubstantially identical in dimensions to the one such opening 19 shownin FIG. 3 of the drawing.

Clamping means 16 further includes a substantially L-shaped clampingmember 20 having an upstanding leg 20a of a relatively short length ascompared to the length of the other leg 20b of clamping member 20. Thelegs 20a and 20b of clamping member 20 extend substantially at rightangles to each other and a notch 21 is provided in leg 20b at thejuncture of legs 20a and 20b for a purpose to be more fully describedhereinafter. Additionally, clamping member 20 includes a threaded hole22 suitably located in leg 20b intermediate the two ends thereof. Thewidth of leg 20b of clamping member 20 is made such that, the leg 20bwill be capable of passing through one of the openings 19 provided inleg 17b of stiffening angle 17.

As seen in FIG. 2 of the drawing, a screw 23 is threadably received inthe threaded hole 22 provided in leg 20b of clamping member 20. It willalso be seen that in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter,the free end of leg 20b of clamping member 20 frictionally engages theupper surface of outwardly projecting flange member 24, the latter beingsuitably affixed such as by welding to the under side of bottom wall 13of the drop-in device, i.e., griddle 10.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, aplurality of such clamping means 16 are utilized to fasten any givendrop-in device to a particular work surface. Of course, the exact numberof clamping means 16 utilized in any specific installation varies inaccordance with what is necessary to establish and maintain a secureconnection between the work surface and the supported drop-in device.Experience has shown that it is generally desirable to provide astiffening angle 17 in juxtaposed relation to the under side of worksurface 11 adjacent the entire perimeter of the opening provided thereinto receive the particular drop-in device. That is, a stiffening angle 17will preferably be utilized along each of the four sides of the worksurface opening. Furthermore, the four stiffening angles 17 so providednormally vary in length in accordance with the dimensions of the worksurface opening, and also may vary correspondingly as to the number ofopenings 19 provided therein.

For purposes of installing the griddle 10 in the opening providedtherefor in the work surface 11 whereby the griddle l0 and the worksurface 11 bear the relationship illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing,the griddle 10 is first lowered into the work surface opening such thatthe trim 15 of the griddle 10 engages the upper side of work surface 11.Thereafter, the griddle 10 may readily be secured to the work surface 11through the use of a plurality of clamping means 16. In the particularcase of griddle 10, a total of ten clamping means 16 would probably beadequate to establish a sufficiently secure connection between thegriddle l0 and the work surface 11, with at least two of the clampingmeans 16 being employed in conjunction with each of the four stiffeningangles 17, and in which event at least one such clamping means 16 wouldbe positioned adjacent either end of each of the stiffening angles 17.

Inasmuch as the same installation procedures are followed with regard toeach of the clamping means 16 irrespective of the particular numberthereof being utilized in any given installation, the following islimited to a description of the manner of employment of one suchclamping means 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing. Thuswith the trim 15 of the griddle resting loosely on the upper side ofwork surface 11 and with each of the stiffening angles 17 suitablyemplaced, leg

' 20b of clamping member 20 is inserted into one of the openings 19suitably positioned in leg 17b of one of the stiffening angles 17. Thefree end of leg 20b of clamping member 20 is pushed through theaforesaid opening 19 until leg 20a of clamping member 20 abuts againstleg 17b of stiffening angle 17 and the free end of leg 20b rests on theupper surface of outwardly projecting flange 24. Screw 23 is thenthreaded into the hole 22 provided therefor in leg 20b of clampingmember 20 until the threaded end of screw 23 contacts the under side ofleg 17a of stiffening angle 17. It is to be understood that in turn thissame procedure would then be followed with respect to each of theparticular clamping means 16 being employed.

For purposes of centrally positioning the griddle 10 relative to each ofthe four sides of the opening provided therefor in work surface 11, leg20b of clamping member 20 of each of the clamping means 16 is now movedlaterally relative to leg 17b of stiffening angle 17 such that the notch21 in the clamping member 20 is located in juxtaposed relation to oneend of the corresponding opening 19. The edge portions of notch 21 arethus capable of functioning as a stop and inasmuch as the leg 20b ofeach of the clamping members 20 being utilized is of the same fixedlength, this procedure ensures that each of the side walls 14 of thegriddle 10 will now be spaced from the leg 17b of the nearest stiffeningangle 17 a distance approximately equal to the length oflegs 20b ofclamping members 20.

With the griddle 10 thus aligned relative to the edges of the worksurface opening, screw 23 of each of the plurality of clamping means 16being utilized is in turn rotated in a clockwise direction as viewedwith reference to FIG. 2 of the drawing. This clockwise rotation of thescrews 23 causes the corresponding leg 20b of the associated clampingmember 20 to move away from the under side of leg 17a of stiffeningangle 17, and because the free end of the aforesaid leg 20b rests uponthe upper surface of one of the outwardly projecting flanges 24 affixedto the bottom wall 13 of griddle 10 along each of the four sidesthereof, this results in the horizontal flange a of trim 15 surroundingand integral with the perimeter of the drop-in device, i.e., griddle 10,being drawn down tightly upon the upper side of work surface 11. Screws23 are tightened to a sufficient extent to ensure that a secureconnection will be maintained between griddle 10 and work surface 11.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a suitablyresilient gasket 25 previously referred to hereinabove is interposed asseen in FIG. 2 of the drawing between the outer edge of horizontalflangelSa of trim l5 and the upper side of work surface 11. The gasket25 may be retained on the horizontal flange 15a by means of a suitablesecuring means ,such as an adhesive, etc. When the screws 23 aretightened in the aforementioned manner, resilient gasket 25 will becompressed to an extent sufficient to provide a tight seal between thetrim 15 of the griddle 10 and work surface 11. It is to be understoodthat preferably the gasket 25 is utilized along the entire perimeter ofthe trim 15.

To unfasten the griddle 10 from the work surface 1 1, the reverse of theprocedure described hereinabove is followed. That is, all of the screws23 are unscrewed from the corresponding holes 22, the legs 20b of theclamping members 20 are moved laterally to disengage their respectivenotch 21 from its engagement with the end of the opening 19, and thelegs 20b of clamping members 20 are then withdrawn from the openings 19.

The griddle 10 is thereafter free to be lifted out of the openingprovided therefor in the work surface 1 1.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing there is illustrated thereinanother embodiment, in accordance with the present invention, ofpull-down clamping means generally designated by reference numeral 26.The clamping means 26 is intended to be utilized with those types ofdrop-in cooking equipment devices which include a trim 27 integral withside walls 28 of the device, the latter side walls 28 having a portionthereof projecting upwardly away from the opening 30 in the work surface31 rather than downwardly into the work surface opening as in the caseof the griddle 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing. Drop-incooking equipment devices of the type with which clamping means 26 wouldbe employed include among others such things as hotplates, etc., all ofwhich are wellknown both as to construction and method of operation ofthose skilled in this art. As such it has not been deemed necessary tofurther depict in the drawing or describe herein the construction ofsuch devices, particularly inasmuch as the specific structural detailsthereof apart from those shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing constitute nopart of the present invention.

The clamping means 26 includes a threaded stud 32 preferably welded tothe under surface of trim 27 intermediate the free end of trim 27 andthe upstanding portion of side wall 28 as illustrated in FIG. 4 of thedrawing. Clamping means 26 further comprises a Z-shaped clamping member33 of somewhat the same general configuration as clamping member 20 ofclamping means 16, although the former is not provided with a notchcorresponding to the notch 21 of clamping member 20. Furthermore, thehole (not shown) provided in the clamping member 33 to receive the stud32 need not be threaded as in the case of hole 22 of clamping member 20inasmuch as nut 34 is utilized for purposes of both retaining theclamping member 33 on the stud 32 and providing a means for tighteningthe clamping member 33 up against the under side of work surface 31 andtrim 27, respectively.

As with the previously described clamping means 16, although notillustrated a plurality of clamping means 26 are preferably utilized forpurposes of establishing and maintaining a secure connection between thedropin device whose side wall 28 is depicted in FIG. 4 of the drawingand the work surface 31. Further, since each of this plurality ofclamping means 26 functions in the same manner, the method ofemploymentof only one such clamping means will be described hereinafter.

Thus, once the aforesaid drop-in device has been positioned injuxtaposed relation to the opening 30 in work surface 31 with the trim27 of the drop-in device in engagement with the upper side of the worksurface 31, the threaded studs 32 welded to the under side of trim 27will be accessible from below the work surface 31. Some degree ofalignment of the drop-in device in .the opening 30 occurs by virtue ofthe fact that the drop-in device must be positioned relative to theopening 30 such that the studs 32 will project into the opening 30 andnot rest on the upper side of work surface 31. A clamping member 33 isnow placed on the stud 32 and is loosely retained thereon by means ofnut 34, which is screwed onto the stud 32. The clamping member 33 isthen manipulated so that the horizontally extending leg portion 33a ofclamping member 33 will be adjacent the under side of work surface 31,the upstanding leg portion 33b thereof adjacent side wall 28 of thedrop-in device, and the leg portion 33c thereof extending downwardlyaway from the under side of work surface 31. Thereafter nut 34 istightened in order to securely clamp the work surface 31 between trim 27and leg 33a of clamping member 33. In a similar fashion, the clampingmembers 33 and nuts 34 are positioned on each of the remainder of thestuds 32 carried by the trim 27 and the nuts 34 are in turn tightened tosecurely clamp the entire perimeter of the trim 27 to the work surface31. Leg portion 33c of clamping member 33 is provided primarily as ameans of increasing the overall rigidity of clamping member 33. It is ofcourse to be understood however that an L-shaped clampingmembercomprised of only leg portions 33a and 33b could also be utilized inplace of Z-shaped member 33 without departing from the essence of theinvention.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing, it is to beunderstood that if desired a resilient gasket similar to the gasket 25shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing and described hereinabove may beinterposed between the under side of trim 27 and the upper side of worksurface 31 whereby the resilient gasket becomes compressed when theclamping means 26 is tightened to its clamping position such as toprovide a tight seal between the trim 27 and the work surface 31.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention there has been provided apull-down clamping means for fastening a drop-in device to a worksurface which obviates the installation problem associated with priorart clamping means used by industry today. Further the subject pull-downclamping means eliminates the need to drill holes in the work surface toaccomplish the aforesaid fastening of the drop-in device to the worksurface while yet retaining the capability of ensuring that the drop-indevice is properly aligned with respect to the edge portions of theopening in the work surface provided to receive the drop-in device. Theaforedescribed pull-down clamping means also facilitates the task offastening the drop-in device to a work surface while only requiring theapplication of a minimal amount of manual effort, but nevertheless 3enabling the establishment of a secure connection to be made between thedro -in device and the work surface. Moreover, the pullown clampingmeans in accordance with the present invention includes a minimum numberof component parts, all of which are relatively simple and inexpensiveto manufacture and utilize. Finally, this pull-down clamping means isextremely flexible in its employment inasmuch as it does not rely on theexistence of any critical alignment of the clamping means relative tothe work surface and/or drop-in device, as found in prior art forms ofclamping means used for the same purpose such as for example where studsare required to be received in holes in the work surface.

While two embodiments of my invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it will be appreciated thatmany modifications thereof mayreadily be made by those skilled in the art. I therefore intend to coverall such modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of myinvention.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A pull down clamping arrangement for fastening a drop-in device in anopening in a work surface, comprising:

a. a trim formed integrally with said drop-in device and designed tooverlie the work surface adjacent the opening therein; said trimextending generally parallel to the work surface;

b. a plurality of threaded studs permanently attached to and extendingdownwardly from said trim;

c. at least one clamp member having at least an upwardly extending firstleg and a longitudinally extending second leg extending at right anglesto each other;

d. said longitudinally extending second leg having at least one holelocated intermediate the two ends thereof;

e. at least one of said threaded studs extending through said .at leastone hole in said longitudinally extending second leg of said at leastone clamp member;

f. at least one nut threaded on said at least one of said threadedstuds, said at least one nut being movable between a clamping positionand an unclamping position, said at least one nut in moving to itsclamping position causing said upwardly extending first leg of said atleast one clamp member to bear against said trim of said drop-in deviceand said longitudinally extending second leg of said at least one clampmember to bear against the work surface to draw said trim of saiddrop-in device down tightly against the work surface adjacent theopening in the work surface to securely fasten said drop-in device tothe work surface.

2. A pull-down clamping means as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said clamp member in substantially Z-shaped in configuration; and

b. said clamp member includes a third leg extending at right angles tosaid second leg of said clamp member and extending in an opposeddirection to said first leg of said clamp member.

1. A pull down clamping arrangement for fastening a drop-in device in anopening in a work surface, comprising: a. a trim formed integrally withsaid drop-in device and designed to overlie the work surface adjacentthe opening therein; said trim extending generally parallel to the worksurface; b. a plurality of threaded studs permanently attached to andextending downwardly from said trim; c. at least one clamp member havingat least an upwardly extending first leg and a longitudinally extendingsecond leg extending at right angles to each other; d. saidlongitudinally extending second leg having at least one hole locatedintermediate the two ends thereof; e. at least one of said threadedstuds extending through said at least one hole in said longitudinallyextending second leg of said at least one clamp member; f. at least onenut threaded on said at least one of said threaded studs, said at leastone nut being movable between a clamping position and an unclampingposition, said at least one nut in moving to its clamping positioncausing said upwardly extending first leg of said at least one clampmember to bear against said trim of said drop-in device and saidlongitudinally extending second leg of said at least one clamp member tobear against the work surface to draw said trim of said drop-in devicedown tightly against the work surface adjacent the opening in the worksurface to securely fasten said drop-in device to the work surface.
 2. Apull-down clamping means as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said clampmember in substantially Z-shaped in configuration; and b. said clampmember includes a third leg extending at right angles to said second legof said clamp member and extending in an opposed direction to said firstleg of said clamp member.